Extremophiles/Astrobiology

To gain a better understanding of the potential for life in extraterrestrial ecosystems, astrobiologists investigate life in extreme environments on Earth. Much of the known universe is cold, dry, and highly irradiated. Here on Earth the most suitable analogs for astrobiology research are those locations that can best approximate these extremes. High elevation and high latitude soil and ice systems are among the best analogs for extraterrestrial sites such as Mars and Europa. There has been much work done at low elevation sites such as in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica and the Atacama Desert, but high elevation sites provide excellent analogs because of the thinner atmosphere, drier air, higher radiation, and more extreme temperature fluctuations. Our lab has focused on how extremophiles cope with dramatic temperature fluctuations across the freezing point, sparse and intermittent water availability, and low nutrient levels encountered in the world's highest mountains such as the Himalayas and Andes (Schmidt et al. 2009, Vimercati et al. 2016) and Himalayas (Schmidt et al. 2011). We also carryout lab and field studies to determine the viability of individual microbes as well as microbial communities in these extreme systems, both from a survival capability and in terms of growth, reproduction, and ecosystem function (e.g. Lynch et al. 2014, Vimercati et al. 2016). Research sites are in Nepal, Chile, Argentina, Tanzania, Colorado, Antarctica, and Perú. Funding for this work has come from several grants from the National Science Foundation, the US Air Force, and through our involvement with the Center for Astrobiology at CU, Boulder.